PANAJI
The worst because Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted, “heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places across Goa.”
In addition, a warning has also been issued to fishermen not to venture out fishing as the sea is expected to be very rough with south westerly waves that may reach up to 60 kilometers per hour.
It doesn’t usually get worse than this, not in the month of June when the South West monsoons are here, but then again, the IMD does get it horribly wrong sometimes. If the second scenario were to play out today, it could be the best of times to hold an election.
Nonetheless, voters turning up to cast their ballots for the panchayat elections will have to come prepared for more than just village politics. In addition to carrying voter identification cards to cast votes, umbrellas and raincoats should also be on the list.
Elections to 186 village panchayats will be held today (Sunday) with nearly 7.5 lakh electors across the State exercising their franchise, that is if all of them prefer to brave the monsoon rains. Democracy does come with a price tag and this time its the price of an umbrella or a rain coat, or both.
All the preparations required for the polls have been completed by Goa State Election Commission (SEC) and the polling will be held from 8 am onwards till 5 pm.
Speaking to ‘The Goan’, State Election Commission (SEC) OSD Dr Durgaprasad said, “The election will be conducted in 1,450 wards of 186 village panchayats across the State. All the polling parties have already left from the respective distribution centres and reached the designated polling stations. The total number of polling booths is 1,217 and the total number of contesting candidates is 5223. Approximately 6000 persons have been deployed for conduct of elections.”
Additionally, nearly 2500 police personnel have been deployed for guarding the polling stations. Flying and mobile squads have also been deployed for smooth conduct of elections.
As far as polling stations are concerned, as a precautionary measure, waterproof pandals have been erected wherever required to protect the electors from the heavy rainfall predicted by the Met department.
“We have not received any complaints of violation of the model code of conduct”, he said.
SEC has also identified sensitive wards in several village panchayats and the commissioner is monitoring the same.
“We have identified 43 sensitive wards in North Goa and 27 in the South. Of these, in North Goa there are 5 hypersensitive and 4 sensitive wards. The Commissioner is regularly monitoring these wards at regular intervals”, he informed. Nonetheless, 55 panch members have been elected unopposed.
